Download Endocrine System - KidsHealth in the Classroom

Grades 3 to 5 • Human Body Series
Endocrine System
KidsHealth.org/classroom
Teacher’s Guide
This guide includes:
• Standards
• Related Links
• Discussion Questions
How does your body know when to grow? How does it know when it’s time to
change from a kid into an adult? How does it keep your cells fueled with energy?
The endocrine system handles all these things and much more! These and activities
will introduce your students to the glands and hormones of the endocrine system.
Related KidsHealth Links
Articles for Kids:
What Are Glands?
• Activities for Students
KidsHealth.org/en/kids/glands.html
• Reproducible Materials
Movie: The Endocrine System
KidsHealth.org/en/kids/esmovie.html
Standards
Your Endocrine System
This guide correlates with
the following National Health
Education Standards:
The Endocrine System Activity
Students will:
• Comprehend concepts related
to health promotion and
disease prevention to enhance
health.
• Analyze the influence of
family, peers, culture, media,
technology, and other factors
on health behaviors.
• Demonstrate the ability to
access valid information and
products and services to
enhance health.
• Demonstrate the ability to use
interpersonal communication
skills to enhance health and
avoid or reduce health risks.
• Demonstrate the ability to
use decision-making skills to
enhance health.
• Demonstrate the ability to use
goal-setting skills to enhance
health.
• Demonstrate the ability to
practice health-enhancing
behaviors and avoid or reduce
health risks.
• Demonstrate the ability to
advocate for personal, family,
and community health.
National Health Education
Standards:
www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/sher/
standards/index.htm
KidsHealth.org/en/kids/endocrine.html
KidsHealth.org/en/kids/bfs-esactivity.html
Endocrine System Word Find
KidsHealth.org/en/kids/bfs-eswordsearch.html
Endocrine System Online Quiz
KidsHealth.org/en/kids/esquiz.html
Discussion Questions
Note: The following questions are written in language appropriate for sharing with
your students.
1.
What are some jobs of the endocrine system?
2.
One of the jobs of the endocrine system is to give directions to your body about
when to grow and develop. Can you think of some times during a person’s life
when the body changes?
3.
Glands and hormones make a great team. Describe how they work in the body.
4.
The endocrine system is also involved in preparing your body for emergencies.
Know that feeling you get when you’re scared or stressed? That’s called the
“fight or flight” response and your hormones (specifically adrenaline) are what
make it happen. Can you think of a time when adrenaline caused you to spring
into action? How did your body feel?
5.
What kinds of problems can occur with the endocrine system?
© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
Grades 3 to 5 • Human Body Series
Endocrine System
Activities for Students
Note: The following activities are written in language appropriate for sharing with your students.
Name That Gland
Objectives:
Students will:
• Learn the names and functions of the various glands of the endocrine system
Materials:
•
•
•
•
Computer with Internet access
"Name That Gland" handout
Eight “Hello! My Name Is ______” stickers (available at office supply stores)
Printout of How the Body Works activity: The Endocrine System (KidsHealth.org/en/kids/bfs-esactivity.html;
enlarge the images and cut them out, leaving them unlabeled)
Class Time:
•
40 minutes
Activity:
After reading the KidsHealth.org articles about the endocrine system and watching the accompanying movie, we’ll
complete the Name That Gland handout independently using the words from the word bank.
[Note to instructor: As your students are working, place the gland cutouts you made from the printout on a table or
desk, along with eight “Hello! My Name Is ______” stickers. After students complete their handouts, select eight
volunteers to stand in front of the class. Assign each student to represent a gland, making sure that students don’t
reveal their identities to the rest of the class. One at a time, ask them to read their description from the "Name
That Gland" handout and call on classmates to guess who they are. The first student to guess the gland’s name picks
up a “Hello! My Name Is ____” sticker, fills it in, and also selects the correct picture of the gland. The gland student
wears the sticker and holds the cutout gland image. For brain glands you might want to show the whole brain with an
arrow pointing to the correct gland; for the reproductive glands, you might want to show both the ovaries and testes
at one time, as on the picture.]
Extension:
Complete the How the Body Works activity: Endocrine System Word Find (KidsHealth.org/en/kids/bfseswordsearch.html).
© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
Grades 3 to 5 • Human Body Series
Endocrine System
Gland Gratitude
Objectives:
Students will:
• Research and demonstrate why the endocrine system is important for good health
Materials:
•
•
Computer with Internet access
"Glandular Gratitude" handout
Class Time:
•
30 minutes
Activity:
Being the endocrine system is a thankless job. When it works well, nobody even notices all the amazing things it
does — from helping our bones grow, to coordinating the changes of puberty, to regulating our blood sugar, energy,
and other cell functions. Frankly, the endocrine system is tired of feeling overworked and underappreciated. It could
use a little love.
Today we’re going to show a little glandular gratitude by writing a thank-you note to our hardworking glands. Be sure
to mention at least three glands specifically (as well as the hormones they produce) and the role they play in keeping
you healthy.
Extension:
Imagine that your endocrine system felt so overworked and underappreciated that it decided to go on strike. Do you
know what a strike is? It’s when workers refuse to do their jobs. Describe at least three health problems that might
occur if your glands and hormones went on strike.
Reproducible Materials
Handout: Name That Gland
KidsHealth.org/classroom/3to5/body/systems/endocrine_handout1.pdf
Handout: Name That Gland Answer Key
KidsHealth.org/classroom/3to5/body/systems/endocrine_handout2.pdf
Handout: Glandular Gratitude
KidsHealth.org/classroom/3to5/body/systems/endocrine_handout3.pdf
Quiz: Endocrine System
KidsHealth.org/classroom/3to5/body/systems/endocrine_quiz.pdf
Answer Key: Endocrine System
KidsHealth.org/classroom/3to5/body/systems/endocrine_quiz_answers.pdf
KidsHealth.org is devoted to providing the latest children’s health information. The site, which is widely
recommended by educators, libraries, and school associations, has received the “Teachers’ Choice Award
for the Family” and the prestigious Pirelli Award for “Best Educational Media for Students.” KidsHealth comes
from the nonprofit Nemours Foundation. Check out www.KidsHealth.org to see the latest additions!
© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
Human Body Series
Endocrine System
Name:
Date:
Name That Gland
Instructions: Use the word bank to answer each question.
1.
I live deep within the brain. I’m only about the size of a pea, but I’m very powerful. I make the hormones that help
you grow, and I control the activity of other glands too. Who am I?
2.
I’m shaped like a bowtie or a butterfly. I’m found in your neck. I make the hormones that help you stay alert and full
of energy. Who am I?
3.
I’m the largest gland in the body. I produce the hormone called insulin that helps glucose, the sugar in your blood,
enter the cells of your body. I work closely with the digestive system. Who am I?
4.
We come in a pair, one on top of each kidney. We produce hormones that help you to act fast
when you’re in trouble or under stress. We’re triangular in shape.
Who are we?
5.
We are a set of four tiny glands that work with the thyroid to control the amount of calcium
in the blood. Who are we?
6.
In girls, we’re the ovaries. In boys, we’re the testes. We’re involved in all the changes
of puberty (when kids begin to become adults).
Who are we?
Word Bank
Adrenal glands
Pituitary gland
Pancreas
Reproductive glands
Parathyroids
Thyroid
© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
Human Body Series
Endocrine System
Name That Gland Answer Key
1.
I live deep within the brain. I’m only about the size of a pea, but I’m very powerful. I make the hormones that help
you grow, and I control the activity of other glands too. Who am I? 2.
I’m shaped like a bowtie or a butterfly. I’m found in your neck. I make the hormones that help you stay alert and full
of energy. Who am I? 3.
Pituitary gland
Thyroid
I’m the largest gland in the body. I produce the hormone called insulin that helps glucose, the sugar in your blood,
enter the cells of your body. I work closely with the digestive system. Who am I? 4.
Pancreas
We come in a pair, one on top of each kidney. We produce hormones that help you to act fast
when you’re in trouble or under stress. We’re triangular in shape.
Who are we? Adrenal glands
5.
We are a set of four tiny glands that work with the thyroid to control the amount of calcium
in the blood. Who are we? 6.
Parathyroids
In girls, we’re the ovaries. In boys, we’re the testes. We’re involved in all the changes
of puberty (when kids begin to become adults).
Who are we? Reproductive glands
Word Bank
Adrenal glands
Pituitary gland
Pancreas
Reproductive glands
Parathyroids
Thyroid
© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
Human Body Series
Endocrine System
Name:
Date:
Glandular Gratitude
Instructions: Write a thank-you note to your endocrine system for all its hard work. Be sure to mention at least three glands
specifically and the role they play in keeping you healthy.
Dear Endocrine System,
I just wanted to thank you
for all you do and let you
know that I think YOU ROCK!
Here’s why:
Your appreciative friend,
© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
Human Body Series
Endocrine System
Name:
Date:
Quiz
Instructions: Answer each question using a word from the word bank.
Then, for extra credit, unscramble the highlighted letters to reveal the hidden word!
1.
The endocrine system has eight _ _ _ _ _ _.
2.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ are chemical messengers produced by the glands.
3.
The hormone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ is responsible for the fight or flight response.
4.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ is the hormone that helps control your blood sugar levels.
5.
The _ _ _ _ _ _ _ gland is shaped like a butterfly.
6.
FREEBIE! The p i n e a l gland helps make melatonin.
7.
The four glands that help control the calcium levels in your blood are called the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ glands.
8.
When the pancreas doesn’t produce insulin, the result is a disease called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
9.
When it’s time for boys and girls to begin _ _ _ _ _ _ _, the pituitary gland gets the ball rolling.
10. A doctor who specializes in treating people with hormone problems is called an _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
Word Bank
adrenaline
glands
parathyroid
puberty
diabetes
hormones
pineal
thyroid
endocrinologist
insulin
Extra credit:
Highlighted letters: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Unscrambled word: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
Human Body Series
Endocrine System
Quiz Answer Key
1.
The endocrine system has eight g l a n d s .
2.
H o r m o n e s are chemical messengers produced by the glands.
3.
The hormone a d r e n a l i
4.
I n s u l i n is the hormone that helps control your blood sugar levels.
5.
The t h y r o i d gland is shaped like a butterfly.
6.
FREEBIE! The p i n e a l gland helps make melatonin.
7.
The four glands that help control the calcium levels in your blood are called the p a r a t h y r
8.
When the pancreas doesn’t produce insulin, the result is a disease called d i a b e t e s .
9.
When it’s time for boys and girls to begin p u b e r t y , the pituitary gland gets the ball rolling.
n e is responsible for the fight or flight response.
o i
d glands.
10. A doctor who specializes in treating people with hormone problems is called an e n d o c r i n o l o g i s t .
Word Bank
adrenaline
glands
parathyroid
puberty
diabetes
hormones
pineal
thyroid
endocrinologist
insulin
Extra credit:
Highlighted letters: a ­­ h
m
Unscrambled word: h ­­ y
p
a
o
s
t
y
h
p ­­ h
a ­­ l
o ­­ t
u
l
a ­­ m
u
s
© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.